The Renegades and Stars lock horns in this second Melbourne Derby, with the Stars still looking for their first win of the season. Here is my full preview, as well as The Prophet’s pick.
Melbourne Renegades (4-2) vs Melbourne Stars (0-5) at Etihad Stadium
Head-to-head history: Melbourne Stars 8, Melbourne Renegades 4
Last five: Melbourne Stars 3, Melbourne Renegades 2Melbourne Renegades 13-man squad
Brad Hodge (C), Dwayne Bravo, Tom Cooper, Marcus Harris, Brad Hogg, Jon Holland, Tim Ludeman+, Mohammad Nabi, Kane Richardson, Matt Short, Chris Tremain, Beau Webster, Jack WildermuthMelbourne Stars 13-man squad
John Hastings (c), Michael Beer, Liam Bowe Scott Boland, Ben Dunk, Dan Fallins, James Faulkner, Evan Gulbis, Glenn Maxwell, Kevin Pietersen (Eng), Rob Quiney, Daniel Worrall, Luke Wright
The Melbourne Renegades will be looking to bounce back from a narrow final over defeat to the Scorchers in Perth when they host the winless Melbourne Stars.
The Renegades are sitting pretty at 4-2, but will have to deal with lynchpins Aaron Finch and Cameron White being unavailable for perhaps for the rest of the Tournament through Australian duty.
The Stars’ season has gone from bad to worse with another listless display in their 8-wicket thumping by the Adelaide Strikers.
Big batting battle – Marcus Harris vs Glenn Maxwell
Marcus Harris is now the Renegades’ most senior batsman at the top of the order, after the departures of Finch and White.
He showed in Perth exactly what he is capable of by taking apart a strong Scorchers’ bowling line up in scoring 48 from 28 balls.
Glenn Maxwell had a slow start to BBL7, however has scored 143 runs from his past three games, including 66 in a lone hand for the struggling Stars in their last game against the Strikers.
(AAP Image/Rob Blakers)
Big bowling battle – Mohammad Nabi vs James Faulkner
I have gone for two senior players who have had contrasting fortunes in BBL7 in the Renegades’ overseas import Mohammad Nabi, and the Stars’ James Faulkner.
Nabi was the man of the match when these sides clashed just under a week ago, and has taken 6/134 for the tournament, going at just over six runs per over.
Faulkner has bizarrely been somewhat of a non-factor throughout BBL7, bowling just ten overs in five games for the figures of 2/67. John Hastings’ lack of use of him has been mystifying at times.
Ground dynamic – Etihad Stadium
The wickets have generally been good at the Etihad this season, although you wouldn’t rank it in the top few batting grounds. Spinners generally do well there as well, and the team batting first should be really competitive with a score of around 165.
The Prophet’s pick (13-12) – Melbourne Stars
“I’m going for the Stars again here. Surely they can a win against the Renegades missing Finch and White.”
The Prophet’s 10-unit bank (-36 Units)
- 4 units Melbourne Stars to win by 1-20 runs or 1-4 wickets at $6
- 3 units Luke Wright to score 25+ into a Stars win at $3.80
- 1 unit James Faulkner Man of the Match at $17
- 1 unit Renegades high bat/bowler to be Ludman/Richardson at $20
- 1 unit Stars high bat/bowler to be Dunk/Bowe at $27